Incarnation School Gifted Program

“To whom much has been given, much will be required.”  Luke 12: 42-48

Dear Parent,

I am pleased to announce that Incarnation Catholic School has an enrichment program which supplements grades 1 – 8 with curriculums designed to meet the needs of its gifted student population. Studies repeatedly show that gifted learners must be given stimulating educational experiences appropriate to their level of ability if they are to realize their potential. 

Our program is structured as a “pull-out” program of both acceleration and enrichment. Gifted children are pulled from their regular classroom, one day a week, from 12:45 till 3:00 to participate in mini studies.  These studies are designed to require increased depth and accelerated work.  Gifted children are fast learners and require little repetition of information; thus, the time of instruction they will miss in their regular classroom once a week should not pose a problem for them. It is, additionally, a program of responsibility; children are responsible for homework, etc. which is assigned in their regular classes which they will miss. Tests are not given on days when children are attending enrichment classes.

Our Enrichment Program extends the regular classroom curriculum with enriched and stimulating projects, discussion and work.  Without it, many students “tune out,” lose interest in school. A curriculum for gifted children should require them to stretch their minds and learn to address challenges.

And just how do we get them to stretch their minds? Studies tell us that gifted children’s learning characteristics are best served by thematic, broad-based, and integrative content, rather than just single-subject areas. Gifted students benefit greatly from curriculum experiences that cross or go beyond traditional content areas, particularly when they are encouraged to acquire an integrated understanding of knowledge and the structure of the disciplines. To modify process, activities must be restructured to be more intellectually demanding. For example, students need to be challenged by questions that require a higher level of response or by open-ended questions that stimulate inquiry, active exploration, and discovery. Although instructional strategies depend on the age of the students and the nature of the disciplines involved, the goal is always to encourage students to think about subjects in more abstract and complex ways.

We know that gifted students learn best in a receptive, nonjudgmental, student-centered environment that encourages inquiry and independence, includes a wide variety of materials, provides some physical movement, is generally complex, and connects the school experience with the greater world. Although all students might appreciate such an environment, for students who are gifted it is essential that the teacher establish a climate that encourages them to question, exercise independence, and use their creativity in order to be all that they can be. It is precisely this sort of environment that I intend to establish for your child here at ICS.

These are my goals for the enrichment program at Incarnation Catholic School. I believe the program will be fun, but I also believe your child will LEARN!  Her/She will learn in new ways which he/she has not learned before!  My wish is that each child achieve and learn his/her personal level of potential.  I believe that, as President John F. Kennedy stated from scripture:  “To whom much is given, much will be required.”  Let’s work together to expect great things for and from your child!

Sincerely,

Connie Berman-Principal

Jennifer Hopper- Enrichment Teacher